Block-and-tackle lifting apparatus



Nov. 22, 1949 A. L. FRANKS 2,439,022

BLOCK AND TACKLE LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1946 Allan Louis F'r'anks b' INVENTOR ATTY Patented Nov. 22, 1949 "PATENT "OFFICE BLOCK-AND TACKLE LIFTING APPARATUS fillan Iiouisf- Franks, Stockport, England Application November 27,1946, Serial No. 712,513 .InGreaZtBritain September'25, 1941 Section L Bublic Law 690, AugustS, 1946 Patent expires September 25, :1961

11 "Claims. 1 This invention relates to .block-and-tackle lifting apparatus, .onelofiits :objectsibeing tolprolvide an improved apparatuswhich -.can= readily be applied to.-an .overheadsupportsand. suspended therefromduring use Another object of the iinventionis tolprovide improved means whereby the lifting apparatus maybe operated fromits'lower .endwhen v applied ment of it in a.multi-lpurchase tackle and Fi 21s a sectional'plan onlthe line II-11 in Fig. 1,

Referring toithe drawing, 3 is .a lsteelltubeg l is a standin blockmoun'ted on the upper end of the .tube 3, Elisa winch mounted on the lower end of the tube, .Sis a running'block complementary to the standing blocker and l is .the fall which ,passes around the sheaves 8 and 9 cf theblocks 4 and 6, respectively. There may .be any desired number of sheaves in the blocks 4 and 8.

The frame H! of the standing block '4, .which is conveniently made in halves secured ,together by screws 10a, is formed with an internally screw-threaded socket "l2 .into which the externally screw-threaded upper end of the tube 3 is screwed. l

The frame H of the running .block 6 is also conveniently made in halves which .are secured together bylscrews i ta.

The frame ill of the standin block 4 has mounted ,on it a 'swivelhook 4a by means of which the tackle can Joe suspended from an overhead support and the frame [I of the running block 6 has mounted in it "a swivel hook 611 for attachment to the load.

Thewinchfi'coinprises a casing made in'halves 1311, I32) secured together by screws I131), and

formed with an internally screw-threaded socket l4 into which the externally screw-threaded lower end of'the tube 3 is screwed. "In the winch casing are mounted three rotatable axles .15, i6 and H, which extend through the casing at 'one side and are formed with squared ends l5a,

[6a and! la, respectively.

On the axle l'5 is 'mourited a winding drum k2 =spur wheel -25! with which gears pinion 2! fixed on the axle ls and with which in turn -gears a piniOniZ-Z of differentsize fixed on the axle i l. The periphery-pf-vthe drum flange Mia -is formed as aratchet or like wheel 23. With the wheel 23 co-acts a pawl 24 freely-pivoted on the axle 46 andprovided withlan operating'piece -25 which extendsdn-to-and.through a recess r36 formed between ..rearward r extensions 13c, l3d .of ztheIhalf-casingsfiid, wfillnrespectively. With .the operating piece 25' is associated .a catch v21 .pivoted in the recess 2I6.at."2 8. .The catch 2'! is formed with a taillifl betweenlwhichand the operatin piece '25 is interposed a C-shapedrspring .30 whichlis anchoredin theloperating piece at 3i and normally maintains theipawl 24 in engagement with the wheel? 23 Vto prevent rotation of the drum 58 m an anti-clockwise directien as viewed in Fig. l. iTheoperating'leverifi and the catch 2" are-formed with co-operative cam surfaces 25a,"2'ia and engaging parts 25b, 21b, respectively, whereby upon depression of theoperating ,piecelv25 therpawl .24 isfirst rocked on the axle IE to disengageitlfrom the wheel 23, following which the jpartllb on the catchi'i snaps into engagement with the ,part .2511 on the piece 2.5 .to retainthe latter depressed and the pawlclearof .the wheel23 to permit free rotation of the drum l8in the aforesaid anti-clockwise direction.

The periphery of the flange Ifib of the drum i8 is formed with .a braking surface 32 which is encircled by a brake band 33. One end of the bandl33 is anchored at 34 .on the axle it and the other end is anchored at 35 on a brakelever 36 pivoted on the axle ll. The leverliit is of more or less L+shape,.the shorter arm of the lever being of U-iormation and extending through an apertureiil into the winch casing and its longer arm extending below the extensions l3c, I3d.which latter have secured to .them haftpieces I36, I31, respectively, to form ahandle 38 which canibengraspedto steady the tackle during use.

The standing-end of the 'fall'! is anchored at 39 on the'frame Ill of the standing blockd. The running vendof th'effalLpasses down the interior of the.tube 3,-roundfthe barrel of the winding drum l8, throughia hole in the flange l8blof the drum and is anchored at 40 on the outer side of the flange. r

Inuse the tackle is -firstsuspendedby engaging the "suspension hook 4a with a suitableoverhead support an'd'thelifting hook tails attached [8 the flange 18a of which hasfixed on itaeB to the load. The operator,-whilegrasping the handle 38 to steady the tackle, then rotates the winding drum l8 by means of a winding lever 4| which can be applied to the squared end of the axle 5 to rotate the drum directly or to the squared end of either of the axles it and I! to rotate the drum through the corresponding reduction gear provided by the pinion 21 or the pinions 2i and 22, depending upon the weight of the load which latter is sustained during lifting by the engagement of the pawl 26 with the wheel 23. To lower the load the pawl 24 is disengaged from the wheel 23 by depressing the end of the operating piece 25 until the latter is held by the catch 2?. The load can then be lowered under control by manipulating the brake lever 38 to actuate the brake band 33.

It will be apparent that as the running end of the fall passes through the interior of the tube 3 the latter is always in compression and is not at any time subjected to much bending strain.

When the tackle is not in use the lifting hook 50; may be engaged with an eye 42, constituted by parts (39, I371 formed on the winch half-casings l3a, i322, respectively, and the fall I wound taut to prevent the fall and the lifting block from getting tangled.

The tackle is readily portable and the tube 3 serves as a pole for engaging the suspension hook 4a with an overhead support such as e. g. a roof tie or beam. Accordingly, the tackle is especially suitable for use in garages for such jobs as lifting engines out of motor vehicles, and in other cases where it requires to be used only at intervals.

If desired, the tube 3 may be made in two or more parts hinged together or otherwise arranged and adapted to be extended in line and locked when the tackle is to be used and to be folded together or telescoped to occupy reduced space when the tackle is not in use.

What I claim is:

l. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawl-and-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle.

2. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawland-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle and a catch for said piece.

3. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawland-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle and a catch for said piece, said piece and catch being at the upper part of said handle and said lever being below said handle.

4. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawland-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, said drum having outer flange, said brake operating on one flange and said pawl operating on a ratchet formed on the other flange.

5. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawla-nd-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, a pair of countershafts parallel to said drum shaft and having reduction pinions meshing with each other and with a gear on said drum shaft, and means for alternately applying a winding lever to said shafts.

6. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing. a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawland-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, a pair of countershafts parallel to said drum shaft and having reduction pinions meshing with each other and with a gear on said drum shaft, and means for alternately applying a winding lever to said shafts, one end of said band being mounted on a countershaft.

'7. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawl-and-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, a pair of countershafts parallel to said drum shaft and having reduction pinions meshing with each other and with a gear on said drum shaft, and means for alternately applying a winding lever to said shafts, said pawl being mounted on a countershaft.

8. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawl-and-ratchet on said drum and a pawl operating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, a pair of countershafts parallel to said drum shaft and having reduction pinions meshing with each other and with a gear on said drum shaft, and means for alternately applying a winding lever to said shafts, said lever being mounted on a countershaft.

9. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device comprising a standing block having suspension means, a running block hung from said standing block by a fall, a tube through which the running end of said fall passes having the upper end anchored in said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the fall passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing, the lower end of said tube anchored in said casing, a handle on the side of said casing opposite to said tube, a winding drum for said fall in said casing secured on a shaft extending through said casing, a brake band and a pawl-and-ratchet on said drum and a pawl oper ating piece and a brake lever for said elements extending in proximity to said handle, an eye on said casing extending toward said running block and means for attaching said block to said eye.

10. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device consisting essentially of a single standing block having means for attaching the same to a support, a fall extending vertically downward from said block, a running block in which the running end of said fall is mounted, a tube extending diagonally downward from said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the line passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing at the lower end of said tube, a fall in said tube between said standing block and winch casing, a handle fixed to said casing and extending away from said running block, and winch mechanism in said casing connected to said fall, operating means for said mechanism adjacent to said handle extending from said casing and operable by the hand grasping said handle.

11. A portable block-and-tackle lifting device consisting essentially of a single standing block having means for attaching the same to a support, a fall extending vertically downward from said block, a running block in which the running end of said fall is mounted, a tube extending diagonally downward from said standing block, the axis of said tube forming an acute angle with the line passing through said blocks when said blocks hang freely, a winch casing at the lower end of said tube, a fall in said tube between said standing block and winch casing, a handle fixed to said casing and extending away from said running block, and winch mechanism in said casing connected to said fall, operating means for said mechanism adjacent to said handle extending from said casing and operable by the hand grasping said handle, said operating means including a winding drum operating piece and a brake lever.

ALLAN LOUIS FRANKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 462,438 Kaye Nov. 3, 1891 981,272 Jacobs Jan. 10, 1911 1,024,507 Graham Apr. 30, 1912 1,124,938 Moulton Jan. 12, 1915 1,270,809 Freeman July 2, 1918 1,547,963 Seifert July 28, 1925 

